The Rheingold Part 2
Gabs and Brunhilda are talking still. Finally, Gabrielle mentions Beowulf (this is the first time
she thought to mention this?), and that strikes a spark in Brun. When Gabs talks about the lock
with the ravens, Brun knows Xena's on a suicide mission.
Xena and Beowulf come to the "end of the line", and before entering a foreboding looking
cottage, Xena turns and whispers to the air, "Stay strong, Gabrielle." Apparently, she ain't
gonna come out of that cottage in one piece. Don't you just hate commercials in an episode
like this?
It's night and it's storming. Xena and Beowulf take off their coats and settle in for a talk. There
were many dead men outside the cottage, and Beowulf talks about them, saying the ones that
weren't left behind were dragged back to the creatures lair and eaten alive. More cannibals
anyone? Two of the men were Beowulf's brothers. He's ready to die beside them. Xena says
whatever happens, she's with him. Xena asks if the creature has a name. Beowulf tells her it's
Grendel. Xena knows Grendel is big and it's slow. This surprises Beowulf, but why should it?
She created it!
Brun and Gabs are trudging along. Brun wants to camp, but Gabs says they're going to keep
going. Brun says she hopes Grendel doesn't get them, and Gabs stops them. Who's Grendel?
Huh? Didn't Brunhilda says Xena was on a suicide mission because Gabs had seen the lock off
Grendel's cage? Wouldn't Brun had told her the fact that Grendel was loose was the reason
Xena was on a suicide mission? These two have got to learn to communicate better!!
Grendel is growling and carrying on outside the cottage door. Xena and Beowulf are preparing
to do battle. Why wasn't I surprised when the creature busts in through the wall Beowulf's
head was about an inch and a half from? They struggle, and Xena attacks from behind. She
does a few flips and war cries that get both Grendel's and Beowulf's attention. She sees the
ring on Grendel, but how to get it? Grendel is one tough cookie! Xena uses a chakram throw,
but even it doesn't do much damage. Still she's fairing better than Beowulf who is getting his
butt kicked. Finally, Grendel grabs Xena by the throat, and bloodies her up. Beowulf is out
cold. The last shot of Xena is those blue eyes staring up menacingly at Grendel, as he slobbers
down on her.
All is quiet at the cottage now. Gabrielle and Brunhilda approach. Brun warns Gabs how
dangerous this is. Gabs responds, "Xena's path is my path." Brun says "I wish I had a friend
like you", to which Gabs puts a hand on her shoulder and says "You do." Hmmm.... Better
not let Xena know you touched another girl, Gabs! They enter the cottage and find Beowulf
groaning under a pile of debris. He looks at Gabs and says "He dragged her off. I don't know
whether she's dead or alive." As Gabs is looking for clues, she spots Xena's breast armor on
the floor with a gasp of "Oh no...Xena". And then there are those accursed words...To Be
Continued!!! Arrrggghhh!
This is definitely a setup episode, with a long way to go. Nothing is really resolved here. And
although Gabs and Xena spent very little time together on screen, their relationship seems
stronger than ever, which, of course, is nice. I think it's going to be very interesting to see how
Xena responds to knowing Gab's followed her this time. And yes, Xena is all over the
previews next week, so she's going to be okay. There's a BIG hug between Xena and Gab's in
the previews with Gab's saying "Don't ever leave me again", plus a sobbing scream from the
end as Xena drops her sword and chakram, so this one is going to be very intense too. Can't
wait!
And now, for what Gary thought of The Rheingold:
This episode is the best one so far in season 6. We now know what
happened to Xena once she left Chin,and as usual,we see the dark side of
our heroine. She manages to see Odin,the Norse king of the gods in that
region,and gets into his good graces by lying about forsaking love. This
was done so Odin would tell her how to find the Rhine Maidens,who know
where the gold is.It has magical powers.She is also made into a
Valkyrie,Odin's personal guards.
Visually,the show was great,and there was a haunting musical score that
really seemed to fit.It was unlike Antony and Cleopatra,where obvious
rock music played...that ruined the scene,in my opinion. This haunting
music was really apt,in Rheingold,and the producers finally got it
right.
It appears that this is going to be another trillogy,with The Ring and
The Return of the Valkyrie coming up.
From my reading of Bulfinch's Mythology,we know that Odin had only one
eye,but the Odin we see has two. Maybe in the next episodes,he will lose
one.
Also,Xena's Chakram had no effect on Grendel,a tree-like monster. We
just saw recently that a Chakram could whip right thru a large- diameter
tree in The Abyss. The ring Xena made must make the wearer
invincable,even if it isn't human.
The lodge-house scene where Beowulf and Xena get thrown around was
pretty realistic,and this is the first time we see that Xena actually
loses her armor to an enemy.
The dual stories of Gab and Xena in this episode work for a change.I
felt that Gab was hurt when Xena never told her about Grendel,but Gab
said that friends could keep things secret.
The only other episodes where we don't see Xena and Gab in the story
together much that I can remember is Destiny/The Quest, Locked up and
tied Down, Forget-Me-Not,and 10 Little Warlords.
We must remember,however,that according to the Norse legends/sagas,that
it was Beowulf who removes Grendel's arm,eventually causing its
death.Then Beowulf must fight Grendel's mother,a tougher adversary.
I hope that RenPics allows a saga centuries old to keep this string of
events intact.
In a cold climate where we can see their breath,we see Gab wearing her
bikini costume with an open coat...it should have spared us the
eye-candy in this episode and made it really authentic by showing her
bumdled up as she should be.
I liked Xena's new helmet with the wings in the flashbacks,and the armor
was really good,too.
The flying horses scenes were a little uneven,and when the girls fall
from a huge height,they survive....Xena doesn't even have a scratch.
Compare that with the scene where they fight Grendel.
Let's hope the next episodes are as good as this one...the potential is
there. As Xena said,"I don't want you to have to die with me
again"....we have seen way too much of them dying in so many episodes
that it really does take away from the real fear of their death.
Any comments?
The Rheingold Part 1
Home